Otis the Sock Dog

Movies: Italian Travel Inspiration

2011-09-06T08:00:00.003-04:00

A Room with a View: When Lucy Honeychurch and chaperone Charlotte Bartlett find themselves in Florence with rooms without views, fellow guests Mr Emerson and son George step in to remedy the situation. Meeting the Emersons could change Lucy’s life forever but, once back in England, how will her experiences in Tuscany affect her marriage plans? (Florence, Tuscany) James Ivory, Helena Bonham Carter

Casanova: Set in Venice in the 1700s, the movie tells the story of the legend, whose dalliances have inspired countless lovers through the centuries. When Giacomo Casanova discovers Francesa Bruni, he meets his perfect match, succumbing to the only woman ever to refuse his charms…until he can prove himself worthy. (Venice, Vicenza) Heath Ledger, Sienna Miller, Jeremy Irons

Bread and Tulips: A housewife starts a new life with a new man in Venice. The scenes in Venice are very good. (Venice) Licia Maglietta, Bruno Ganz, Giuseppe Battiston

Ciao, Professore!: Want to try to understand the difference between the north and south of Italy? Well, in this film a teacher applies to be transferred to a nice northern Italian city, when a typo on his application changes his destination from a village in the wealthy north to the impoverished south. He is forced to teach kids in a village where schooling is given a very low priority. Despite it all, this is a very upbeat film. (Sicily) Paolo Villagio

Dangerous Beauty: Beautiful scenes of Venice in this historical movie about an infamous courtesan set in the 16th century. (Venice) Catherine McCormack, Rufus Sewell, Jacqueline Bisett

Gladiator: When a Roman general is betrayed and his family murdered by a corrupt prince, he comes to Rome as a gladiator to seek revenge. (Rome, Tuscany) Ridley Scott, Russel Crowe

Il Postino: The man selected to deliver letters to Pablo Neruda, exiled on an island off the coast of Italy, has his worldview changed by the poet, who returns to Chile, leaving the postman with dreams and aspirations he can’t figure out how to achieve. (Amalfi Coast, Positano) Michael Radford, Massimo Troisi

La Dolce Vita: A journalist and man-about-town Marcello struggles to find his place in the world, torn between the allure of Rome’s elite social scene and the stifling domesticity offered by his girlfriend, all the while searching for a way to become a serious writer. (Rome) Federico Fellini, Marcelo Mastroiani, Anita Eckberg

Life is Beautiful: A Jewish man has a wonderful romance with the help of his humour, but must use that same quality to protect his son in a Nazi death camp. (Arezzo, Tuscany) Roberto Benigni, Nicoletta Braschi, Giorgio Cantarini

Much Ado About Nothing: Set in the beautiful Tuscan countryside with magnificent scenery, this Shakespeare tale will get you in the mood for a trip to Tuscany. It’s one of the easier Shakespeare plays to understand and it’s in English. (Tuscany) Kenneth Brunagh, Emma Thompson, Denzel Washington

Only You: Woman believes that two soul-mates can be united if they find each other. (Rome, Tuscany, Venice, Positano) Marisa Tomei

Roman Holliday: Take a delightful romp around Rome with Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck in this 1953 movie set in Rome. (Rome) William Wyler, Gregory Peck, Audrey Hepburn

Tea with Mussolini: Tea with Mussolini, directed by Franco Zeffirelli, is a Merchant Ivory period movie set in Florence during the rise of fascism. The movie centers on a group of British and American women and a young boy living in Florence. (Florence) Char, Judi Dench, Joan Plowright, Maggie Smith

The Italian Job: Thieves plan to pull off the heist of their lives by creating Los Angeles’ largest ever traffic jam. (Venice) Gary Gray, Mark Wahlberg, Donald Sutherland, Charlize Theron

The Scarlet and the Black: The true story of Vatican efforts, lead by Monsignor Hugh O’Flaherty, to save Allied POWs and downed Allied airmen from Nazi imprisonment. Set in 1940′s Rome, the film also explores the SS effort, lead by SS-Lieutenant Colonel Kapplar, to stop him. (Vatican, Rome) Gregory Peck, Christopher Plummer, John Gielgud

The Talented Mr. Ripley: While you might not warm up to Mr. Ripley himself, the beautiful Italian scenery is sometimes breathtaking. The movie is a thriller in English staring Matt Damon that takes place in several parts of Italy, including the Amalfi Coast. (Amalfi Coast) Matt Damon, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jude Law, Cate Blanchett

Under the Tuscan Sun: Cortona is a scenic hill town in Tuscany, Italy. After Frances’s seemingly happy San Francisco marriage ends abruptly, she goes into a funk. Urged by her friends to move on, she joins a bus tour of Tuscany where, on the spur of the moment, she buys a crumbling villa. (Tuscany) Diane Lane, Raoul Bova

1900: Set in Italy, the film follows the lives and interactions of two boys/men, one born a bastard of peasant stock the other born to a land owner. The drama spans from 1900 to about 1945, and focuses mainly on the rise of Fascism and the peasants’ eventual reaction by supporting Communism, and how these events shape the destinies of the two main characters. (Italy) Bernardo Bertolucci, Robert Deniro, Gerard Depardieu

Tuscany - Recommended Reading

2011-08-08T08:10:00.002-04:00

Tuscany, with its sweeping hillsides planted with vineyards and olive trees, Mediterranean villas, and distinctive regional cuisine, is one of the most popular regions to visit in Italy. It can be difficult to choose which of the villages to visit to get the most out of the region.

Bentley highlights 37 villages and towns; both for their intrinsic beauty and for the part they have played in Tuscan history and culture. Page after page of Alex Ramsay’s magnificent color photos evoke the beauty of the land and capture the charms of the architecture, the landscape, and the people. Specially compiled listings of hotels, restaurants, and festivals complete the tribute to Tuscany and its villages.

This is a beautifully put together book. The photography is outstanding. You will long to visit Tuscany after reading this book. It makes a beautiful coffee table addition. You will find it hard to resist looking at it again and again. Here are just three of the recommended towns.

Artimino

Artimino is a small fortified hamlet in the Provence of Prato surrounded by olive trees and cypresses. The first evidence of the Village of Artimino dates to 998 with the documented presence of the Pieve di San Leonardo, one of the best examples of Romanesque Lombardo architecture in Tuscany. The Etruscans were the first inhabitants of this site. Artimino affords splendid views of the neighboring countryside, whose vineyards produce excellent wines.

Bagni de Lucca

Bagni de Lucca, “land of princes and poets”, is the largest mountain commune in Italy with a great number of hamlets. It is known for it’s historic spas. It is situated in the valleys of the Rivers Serchio and Lima, surrounded by green hills covered with century-old forests of chestnut trees. Scattered in the area are many elegant mansions of the 19th century, surrounded by rich gardens populated with rare plant species, which poets and musicians used as a romantic retreat and source of inspiration.

San Gimignano

The “city of the beautiful towers” rises up from Tuscany’s Elsa Valley like a medieval dreamscape. Once an Etruscan settlement, founded in the 6th century, it became a town in the 10th century, and in its heyday boasted 72 towers. The towers were symbols of the power and wealth of the city’s medieval families. Today it is noted for its intact gates and palaces, as well as the 13 remaining towers built in 1150. The town is surrounded by lush, productive land and the setting is altogether enchanting.

Stibbert Museum - Florence

2011-04-22T16:44:00.000-04:00

The Stibbert Museum is located on the hill of Montughi in Florence, Italy. The museum contains over 36,000 artifacts, including a vast collection of armor from Eastern and Western civilizations. The museum was founded by Frederick Stibbert (1836 - 1906), who inherited a vast fortune from his grandfather and did not work for the rest of his life. Frederick Stibbert dedicated his life to collecting various objects, antiques, and artifacts and turned his villa into a museum. When the size of the collections outgrew the villa, Stibbert commissioned various additions created by the likes of architect Giuseppe Poggi, the painter Gaetano Bianchi, and the sculptor Passaglia, who contributed to the present day appearance of one of the most precious examples of l9th century museums.  The vast park surrounding the villa is recognized as one of the most beautiful gardens in Florence.

Today, the museum comprises 10 rooms to exhibit the wide-ranging collections of Stibbert. The rooms are crowded with very sumptuous objects reflecting the taste of a collector. The museum includes a very lavish group of portraits belonging to different ages and most of the wall drawings are in leather. The furniture itself includes very valuable pieces dating back to the 15th century. There are important porcelains and majolica that were produced by the most important Italian and foreign manufacturers.

The museum, however, owes its reputation to its collection of arms and suits of armors that comprise an incredible number of varying and rare pieces ranging from the 15th to the 17th centuries. The vast majority of arms are European, although there are also Oriental, Persian, Indian and Islamic examples. A particularly suggestive view is offered by the parade of horses and riders fully equipped to represent the Italian, German and Islamic arms and suits of armors belonging to the 16th and 17th centuries. The museum also displays a very important group of Japanese arms, with dozens of suits of arms and hundreds of swords, which constitutes the largest collection of this kind outside of Japan.

Rental Reason #2 - Ambience!

2011-04-17T12:57:00.002-04:00

Villa al Boschiglia!

Built in the 17th century, Villa al Boschiglia is set in beautiful northwest Tuscany, in the ancient parish of Vorno near the magnificent medieval town of Lucca. Displaying the easy elegant lifestyle of the period, the noble, or main, floor is raised from the country floor, and entered through a portal atop the outside double flight stairway, with a symmetrical distribution of the other rooms around the central salon. There is also interior access to the country, or ground, floor where guests can enjoy delightful dinners in front of a large fireplace.   Guests are embraced by the gentle colors and sharp fragrances of the panoramic countryside. Upon the opening of the private gate, the guest’s first sight is an alley of ‘tall and pure’ cypresses. The wide park of the villa with lime-trees, oaks, olives, magnolias, large bushes of aromatic plants, and roses is the ideal background in which to begin one’s visit.

Otis' Villa Testimonial

2011-03-18T15:01:00.002-04:00

Rental Recommendation - Villa al Boschiglia
A Testimonial from a Sock Dog

I highly recommend to you humans Villa al Boschglia. I can tell you from personal experience why you should rent this spectacular villa. I was warmly welcomed with my family while staying at Villa al Boschiglia. It is a spectacular villa in the heart of Tuscany. Here you can live out your dream of life in a luxury villa. I am pleased to say that cats are not allowed in the villa, just sock dogs.

Why rent in Tuscany? Tuscany epitomizes the birth of the Renaissance. The region’s most prized art and historical relics reside in the larger cities, while hilltop medieval towns offer their own history. Tuscany offers breathtaking views of the undulating countryside with its rustic vineyards and olive groves and the majestic Appiennes Mountains. The blend of delicious foods and beautiful wine is classic Tuscany. Whether you come in search of pure relaxation and rural charm or an experience packed with local culture and tradition - you will fall in love with Tuscany!

Why rent Villa al Boschiglia? Besides having me to answer any questions at otis.sockdog@gmail.com, I can give you 12 of the reasons to rent this villa in Tuscany!

Here is the first, with more to come!

#1 Location, Location, Location!
In a beautiful corner of Tuscany, near the medieval town of Lucca, the magnificent Villa al Boschiglia is for rent. Villa al Boschiglia rental was built in Tuscany in the middle of the 17th century. This central location allows you to explore the numerous well-known sites of Tuscany such as Carrara, Chianti, Florence, Lucca, Pisa, and Siena. It is also the ideal location from which to visit the lesser known, but worthy of exploration, places such as Fiesole, Montecatini Alto, Pistoia, San Gimignano, San Miniato, Vinci, Vicopisano, and Volterra.

Still Thinking

2010-09-22T15:44:00.010-04:00

Welcome to Fall, Humans! I am still pondering my book, but I think it will go something like this!

My trip to Italy planned I was getting very nervous about flying. It was my first time on a plane, and it was a long way from the United States to Italy. But, having researched Italy and all the wonderful places I wanted to visit, I knew I had to go. Pushing my fears away I concentrated on packing and getting ready for my adventure. I did have one other little concern; even though I had a passport would the agents let a Sock Dog through customs ?

What do you think? This is a hard task for a Sock Dog, but I will get it done! Here are a few pictures showing how hard I was working on my vacation.

My Book

2010-07-20T12:12:00.004-04:00

Spring is Here!

2010-04-07T15:08:00.005-04:00

Yipeeeeeee! Finally I see signs of Spring! It has been a long winter, and I have been feeling rather housebound. I am very excited about being outdoors again. I have already been tree climbing, swinging, smelling the daffodils, and rolling in the grass. I just got an email from my cousin, Bosch. He lives at the luxury Villa al Boschiglia. He said they are getting ready for their seasonal guests. He has a good life over there, but mine is pretty good here too. So welcome, my followers, to the warm sweet smells and signs of Spring! Enjoy!

Ready for Spring!

2010-03-07T16:40:00.007-05:00

I have been very bad about my blog. I am writing a book about myself. I know it will be very popular because I am an interesting fellow. But I have also been snowed in most of the winter. I have been up to my eyeballs and beyond in snow. I have met some interesting creatures lately. They are all starting to come out as Spring nears. I, myself, have had it. My pals, Max and Riley have had it, too. They have not been able to dig for chipmunks for months. I am ready to see some green! Here are a few pictures of what I am talking about! Click on the photos for a close-up.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2010-01-01T10:02:00.007-05:00

Happy New Year, Humans! Here's hoping that 2010 is better than 2009. All the best to my friends!

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-19T19:35:00.007-05:00

Boy, am I exhausted! I have been so busy decorating the tree, wrapping packages,baking and decorating cookies. The cookie cutters were made by my great great grandfather, and the recipe is considered a family heirloom. I have to have everything perfect, so it takes a lot of energy. But, as I am a super superior sock dog I have once again finished everything with a week to spare. I am now ready for my winters nap and the arrival of Santa. I would like to point out that my beautiful alpaca scarf was custom made for me by my friend, Mirella, in Turin, Italy. Mirella understands my needs for the finer things in life. Check out her shop at http://www.etsy.com/shop/Mireloom. Here's wishing everyone a Merry Christmas or Happy Holiday and a Happy Healthy New Year!

HALLOWEEN ITALIAN STYLE

2009-10-08T12:50:00.005-04:00

Sock dogs love Halloween just as much as you humans! My humans and I celebrated Halloween at the Villa in style. We had a fabulously fun table and I even donned a hat which is usually not something I would agree to do. We had a very special dinner. Bartek, our crazy chef, cooked steaks over the fire coals, and even he was in costume. I think that nose was a costume. It was a lot bigger than any dog snout that's for sure. Here a a few pictures!

WOW! I AM ONE FINE SOCK DOG!!!!!!!!!

2009-09-24T17:47:00.007-04:00

I can not believe what a fantastic looking fellow I am! Then again, yes I can! I just exude personality and thanks to Rebecca of Smelly Rhino Studio at http://www.smellyrhino.etsy.com/ I have been captured perfectly. So you can see why I am going to write a book. I want to share myself with everyone and bring smiles to their faces. I can do that, you know! This scene is taken from a photograph of me enjoying an ice cream sundae in Tuscany, Italy! They really know how to serve them up! Delizioso!

FLYING HIGH

2009-09-07T12:34:00.006-04:00

I thought I should probably tell you how I arrived at the island. I think the pictures speak for themselves. I will spare you my usual commentary. But I've got to say, pontoon planes are way COOOOOOOOOOL!

My Day on the Manatoulin Island

2009-08-30T14:00:00.007-04:00

I spent one day on the Manitoulin Island
which is a Canadian island in Lake Huron, in the province of Ontario. It is the largest island in a freshwater lake in the world. I first went to a Museum in Gore Bay to see some old things. I stopped at a waterfall called Bridal Veil Falls. It was quite beautiful. Off then to Ten Mile Point where there are absolutely amazing views of Georgian Bay. There is also a trading post where you can buy porcupine quill baskets made by the Ojibwe Indians. On the way back to the boat I stopped for a famous Farquhar's ice cream cone. It was a totally wonderful day. I think my humans had a good time, too!

I RETURN!!!

2009-08-18T15:50:00.010-04:00

Hellooooooo, Humans! I have just returned from my well deserved vacation in McGregor Bay, Canada. I say well deserved as I am a very busy sock-dog, and sock-dogs need to relax, too. I had an absolutely splendid time. The weather was magnificent, and I did just what I wanted to - nothing less and nothing more. I spent my days boating, picnicking, water skiing, and just exploring! I can highly recommend this method to help you chill out, as I have returned very relaxed and recharged! More pictures to follow!

I am out of here!

2009-07-29T15:20:00.005-04:00

I am off to Canada for a few weeks of well deserved relaxation. Vacation time is not just for humans! I will be back to blogging upon my return.

Ghiberti's Doors

2009-07-29T14:56:00.011-04:00

Florence 1401, a competition was announced to design the baptistery North Doors. Seven sculptors competed, including Lorenzo Ghiberti, Filippo Brunelleschi, Donatello and Jacopo della Quercia, with 21-year old Ghiberti winning the commission. At the time of judging, only Ghiberti and Brunelleschi were finalists, and when the judges could not decide, they were assigned to work together on them. Brunelleschi's pride got in the way, and he went to Rome to study architecture leaving Ghiberti to work on the doors himself. It took Ghiberti 21 years to complete these doors. These gilded bronze doors consist of twenty-eight panels, with twenty panels depicting a biblical scene from the New Testament. The eight lower panels show the four evangelists and the Church Fathers Saint Ambrose, Saint Jerome, Saint Gregory and Saint Augustine. The panels are surrounded by a framework of foliage in the door case and gilded busts of prophets and sibyls at the intersections of the panels. The doors in the baptistery are a copy of the originals which are in the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo. I would like to point out that there are dogs prominently depicted on these doors. No surprise!

2009-07-26T11:57:00.006-04:00

Just a few more pictures to drive my point home. We animals are everywhere! See below for more straight talk and pictures!

Animals are Important, too!

2009-07-25T15:04:00.012-04:00

While traveling in Italy I discovered that humans realized how very important animals were to their advancement in history. You see animal sculptures everywhere in Italy. The role of animals in history is of such great importance that mankind would not be where they are today without us. I might go so far as to say they would still be in the Stone Age. Think about it humans! Where would you be without us? Here are some pictures of sculptures featuring animals in Tuscany.

Do You Need a GPS in Italy?

2009-07-10T16:54:00.003-04:00

Absolutely! And even then you cannot be sure you will get where you want to go. Our family stayed at the wonderful Villa Boschiglia, near charming Lucca in the heart of Tuscany. It was the greatest place from which to take day trips throughout the region. We always left right on time, but I cannot say the same for our returns. To paraphrase, getting there (or home) was half the fun. Here are but a few of the crazy driving days we had.

Our group of eight adults traveled in two cars with two crazy drivers. Both cars set off one day for the white marble mountains of Carrara. One driver set off following the GPS while the other decided to go his own way. As a result we drove on approximate parallel routes to Carrara, but never close to each other. Thankfully, we had phones. After many calls attempting to get back together on the drive, we gave up, and decided to meet in the town. Let’s just say one car made it to the appointed spot with no problem. The other arrived only after several more phone calls. Road signs are not posted in a way that matches American driving logic, and we used a lot of valuable minutes up that day.

On another day, that same car with a mind of its own, drove right through a NO TRESPASSING active hunting preserve. They had decided to take the scenic tour. I think everyone knows that scenic tours always take longer. This was pretty much the routine and one driver remained in hot water most of the trip, if you know what I mean. The conclusion can only be: Get a GPS for every car, a good map for backup, and instill an appropriate degree of discipline in anyone venturesome enough to serve as driver! It does help if you have the added navigation skills of me, Otis!

Tasty Treats of Italy

2009-06-22T20:35:00.008-04:00

Here are some pictures of the tasty treats of Italy. I must admit my eyes kept popping out of my head when I saw all the delicious delectable delicacies. Walking by all the wonderful shop windows was glorious! Yum! I, of course, could not make up my mind what to get, so I got lots of things to take back to the Villa. But, not before I treated myself to a scrumptious ice cream Sundae! (Don't forget you can click on the picture to get a bigger picture! Your eyes might pop out, too!)

High up in Vicopisano

2009-06-11T18:43:00.009-04:00

This was one fine day. We went to Vicopisano, a commune in the Italian region of Tuscany. In medieval times Vicopisano was a flourishing fortified center of the Republic of Pisa. It was a long climb up, but the spectacular views were worth it. Here a castle (Rocca Nuova) designed by Filippo Brunelleschi was built in 1434. Brunelleschi's Rocca, with an annexed Romanesque church from the 12th century and 12 medieval towers are an awesome site. Here I am looking at the old town books and into a jail cell. Glad to be on the outside!

Fruits of My Labor

2009-06-05T18:19:00.004-04:00

Yes, Sock Dogs can cook! After our very wonderful day at the Pistoia Market we returned to make our own dinner. I actually did most of the work because Bartek likes to take a little snooze while preparing dinner! As you can see I had to prepare the meat slicer. I made a scrumptious soup and some Biscotti. Let me tell you that getting the dough off my paws took a while. Then while dinner was cooking we all got a lesson on how to cut Parmesan properly. That Bartek, what a clown, we knew how! A delicious dinner was had by all! You are welcome, humans!

Otis Goes Shopping

2009-06-02T18:17:00.013-04:00

What a wonderful day we had in Pistoia, the second largest city in Tuscany. Standing between Monte Albano and the Appennines, the town is rich in Roman history. There is a strong medieval feel to the town and its reputation for murderous citizens (dating from the Guelphs) has persisted since the 13th century! The word "pistol" is derived from the dagger originally used by Pistoiese and the ironwork tradition continues to this day. The city is also famous for the production of embroideries and confectionary. We went to buy our dinner in the fresh produce market. It is a beautiful site to behold. I was, of course, treated like a royal visitor. Suaro, the best shop owner, gave me very special attention. Trying to make up my mind as to what to buy was very difficult. But I came back to the Villa with lots of delicious treats. I love this city and they love me! I am pictured here with Suaro, and then our crazy chef Bartek and The Tuscan Chef, Valter Roman. Wait to you see what we cooked up! Buon appetito!

Otis in the Garden

2009-05-30T13:29:00.009-04:00

So much to do in my garden this weekend. I work very hard to make everything look beautiful. I like getting my paws dirty. All the colors and smells inspire me. Aren't nature and I, wonderful! I will resume with more of my travels next week.

The Boboli Gardens

2009-05-29T15:00:00.010-04:00

What a wonderful day we had in Florence touring the Boboli Gardens. The Boboli Gardens, form a famous park in Florence, Italy, that is home to a distinguished collection of sculptures dating from the sixteenth through the eighteenth centuries, with some Roman antiquities. The gardens lie behind the Pitti Palace, which was bought by the Medici family in 1549 and became the chief residence of the ruling families of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany. The Boboli Gardens were laid out for Eleonora di Toledo, the wife of Cosimo I de' Medici. Boy those people had a lot of money. A sockdog can run around all day and never see everthing. Having our wonderful guide, Giovanni, helped a lot. That is me on his shoulder helping him. And wow what a view of Florence you get. I recommend a visit here for sure! Click the picture for a bigger view!

Heeerrrrrrrrrrrre we go!

2009-05-21T19:34:00.001-04:00

Okay, we are off! As you can see I am navigating. Our GPS has the habit of steering us down one way streets. Our first stop is to Vinci, the birthplace of Renaissance genius Leonardo da Vinci (1452). The town is in the Italian region of Tuscany and is surrounded by the Tuscan Hills. The landscape consists of vineyards and olive groves that are much the same as in Leonardo's time. The highlight of this trip was the Museo of Leonardo da Vinci. Here you can find small replicas of Da Vinci's inventions. I just loved this museum. Leonardo was so smart. We had a pretty good lunch in a little restaurant overlooking the hills. Love that pizza Marguerita. It was a great day!

Otis' Italy Adventures

2009-05-20T15:42:00.002-04:00

Where do I begin? I think we should start just outside of Lucca, Italy, in the little town of Vorno. Here stands the glorious Villa Boschiglia. Samuele, the cool Villa owner, is my special friend as he allowed me to stay at the Villa, even with the no dog rule. But, again, I am not just a dog. Sam is pictured here in front of his fireplace. My family and I had our first two week stay here in 2007. Believe me, we were all treated royally, especially me. I had a glamorous bedroom that was color coded to me, I am sure. Fresh flowers were brought in to my room and my bed made every day. We had a crazy chef named Bartek. He says he is a donkey, and I agree. But my whole family loved him. His girlfriend, Maika, who helped at the Villa was much more normal. That is them with me. But he did feed us beautiful meals, and I got the head chair at the end of the table. Here is a picture of the Villa, and that is me looking out my window. This is a picture I took of my family on the Villa steps! You can click on the icon to the left for a full description of the Villa. In each blog I will try to tell you of a new day's adventures and we had a lot.

Otis' First Blog

2009-05-20T11:33:00.000-04:00

Hello, Everyone! My name is Otis. I am a perfectly smart and talented dog. Some people think I am a just sock-dog, but I am so much more. In 2006, the year of my creation, I was adopted by the most wonderful family. I sat in a pile lof socks just waiting to be discovered. I think someone saw some real potential in me. And then, wow, did I come to life. In my few short years I have had many adventures. I will be sharing some of those with you all soon. Here is a picture of me in my finest stance. As my blogging continues you will find out where this picture was taken. Please come blog with me!